Veterans mix with talented underclassmen to form the backline for the 2011 Lipscomb Bisons, with three starters returning from last season’s squad.

Senior Ethan Summers is a three-year starter for the Bisons on the backline; he is returning from injury and may be limited early on, but is expected to once again be a significant contributor. He led all Bisons in minutes played with 1,707 in 2010.

Sophomore duo Kevin Barbar and Isaac Pile will hold down the central defender spots; the pair combined to start 31 matches as freshmen, with Barbar earning All-Freshmen team honors from the Atlantic Sun coaches. Pile led all freshmen in starts (17) and minutes played (1,602) in his freshman campaign.

Juniors Matt Shanklin and Ben Maxham, along with sophomore Josh Robert will get opportunities to lock down the fourth position along the backline; Shanklin started eight matches last season, while Robert appeared eight times in 2010.

Redshirt freshmen Matt Coffey and Ryan Savitsky each hope to see their first regular season action in 2011 after using last season to gain valuable experience on the training field.

Three true freshmen join the defenders for the 2011 campaign in Omar Djabi, Robbie Johnson and Cameron Magoon. Djabi is a local product who starred at Franklin High School last season, while Johnson (Illinois) and Magoon (Georgia) were all-state selections.

Check back with Lipscombsports.com all week for more position previews; Thursday, the goalkeepers will be profiled.

Wednesday evening, the Bisons host Trevecca at 5 p.m. in an exhibition match at the training field behind Cofer’s Chapel Church on the corner of Caldwell Lane and Franklin Pike.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter (@LUMSoccer) and on Facebook at the Lipscomb University Men’s Soccer Team page for more updates on Lipscomb men’s soccer.